Roast Chicken with Squash Gratin

     When fall arrives I think of New England, cider doughnuts, long warm shawls, cozy fireplaces and home style meals. 

     I prepared a beautiful roast chicken for  tonight’s dinner, I wish you could have smell it. There is something so comforting about the smell of roast chicken filling the kitchen on a fall day. It makes me want to fill the house with friends and family and count my blessings.

To prepare the chicken I filled the cavity with rosemary onion & lemon. I rub the bird with a combination of butter, olive oil, mashed garlic, salt, pepper and thyme. $ 13.00 for the above.

(The above will also provide tomorrow’s lunch and perhaps a sandwich or two as well plenty of soup stock)

getting the squash ready

I’m serving the chicken with a simple squash gratin.

I sautéed 1/2 onion till soft but not brown

And Placed it in the bottom of a small baking dish.

I added a Sliced (thin) a yellow squash 

(tossed with olive oil)

And a ripe tomato

Layered them in the baking dish

On top of the onion

making it pretty

I added ¼ cup milk

Sprinkle salt, Sunny Paris seasoning and thyme.

(Sunny Paris is according to the Spice House website…   freeze-dried shallots, ground Mysore green peppercorns, dill weed, freeze-dried scallions, French basil, French tarragon, French chervil, finely minced parsley flakes.)

I am sure the above will work beautifully.

I topped the dish with 

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese and 

fresh breadcrumbs.

(Made from ½ slice of Johns Struan Bread)

the gratin is done

I placed it in a 350-degree oven covered for 25 minutes.

Then I uncovered it and cooked till browned 5 minutes

$2.50 for the gratin

Total $ 7.00 for the meal

Tip of the day: Pull out that baking dish. There is a reason casseroles were so popular in their day. They are one of the original one-dish wonders. A gratin is perfect way to serve up a unique vegetable dish for guests. It is also a wonderful side to bring to a pot luck supper or as an accompaniment to a romantic dinner for two. Check out your old family cookbooks and see if you can update any of the old favorites.